Defroster



July 5, 1938. J. w. ANDERSON DEFROSTER Filed sept. 1e, 1955 y ifm@ Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES DEFRosTEa John W. Anderson, Gary, Ind., assigner to Productive Inventions, Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application September 16, 1935, Serial No. 40,791

6 Claims.

My invention relates to what may be designated as defrosting devices, and particularly to a device adapted for mounting on the inner side or adjacent the windshield of a motor Vehicle or the like for heating or defrosting or preventing the formation and accumulation of ice, snow and sleet on theV windshield, thereby maintaining vis` ibility.

The invention has among its general objects the production of a device of the kind described which is simple, compact, attractive, durable, eiicient, readily attachable or removable and inexpensive to operate, applicable for motor vehicles of all kinds including automobiles, boats, aeroplanes, railroad trains, street cars, or whereeVer the same may be found desirable.

,More particularly, one of the objects of the invention is the production of a device of the character described having high heat efficiency which may be readily and easily mounted adjacent the face of `the member to be defrosted or maintained clear.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting means for the device which may be quickly connected to and disconnected therefrom and which will act to yieldingly urge the device against the windshield or the like and maintain it iirmly in place whereby chattering is prevented and the same is not 4subject to accidental displacement. v

Another object of the invention is to provide an efficient device wherein is contained a mixture for producing heat by chemical action upon the application of water or any other suitable liquid re-agent, and wherein the water or agent may be. o conveniently and satisfactorily deposited in the tion herein shown and described and uses there-' for will be obvious tothose skilled in the art from the disclosures herein given.

Referring' to the drawing, in which only two embodiments are shown for illustrative purposes:

, Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the device;

lFig. 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a variation in construction.

Referring to the drawing which represents generally a casing or container consisting of a back wall 2, bottom 3, ends 4, top 6 and front cover wall 1, which last mentioned wall is preferably attached to the other walls forming the container. The container itself with the exception of the front wall may be made of any suitable material, generally metal and formed in one piece, while the front wall or cover 1 is preferably made of metal such as copper, aluminum or the like, which is a good heat conductor and which will readily transmit the heat generated within the container to the glass windshield or the like.

In the container shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the bottom, top andrend walls are provided with a flange 8 extending about the periphery thereof and the front wall or cover 1 is anged thereover as indicated at 9 so that the casing or container when completed is substantially a sealed unitary structure. It is immaterial whether the container wall or cover is flanged over. The cover or wall 1, however, may be made so that it may be displaced for relling purposes as will be more fully explained hereinafter. it is immaterial as to which wall is displaceable.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the top wall 6 is formed with a slot l0 therein with the edges about the periphery turned inwardly as indicated at Il and I2 so as to form a funnel directed inwardly of the container. It is preferred to have the slot extend substantially from end to end of the container and the same may be comparatively narrow in width as shown.

Within the container is arranged a chemical in the form of a suitable material or mixture in which there will be set upa chemical action when water or other suitable liquid is added thereto causing the generation of heat. It is unnecessary to describe the chemical in detail other than to say that it is such that when the liquid is added, it changes from a substantially inert mixture and becomes active, generating heat over an interval of time. Also it should be such a chemical mixture that is without offensive odor, and after it ceases to generate heat, it will again be active upon the addition of more liquid. The chemical mixture or heat generating composition and the activity and life of the same is dependent upon the kind and amount of material used in the con- Obviously, o

tainer as well as the amount of water or other liquid added thereto. I have found that a composition suitable for the purpose is disclosed in United States Letters Patent Nos. 1,488,656, 1,613,120 and 1,910,874.

It is preferred to place the heat generating composition in an envelope I6 which is preferably made of a fabric of the desired weight, weave or thickness which may be made in the form of a bag so as to entirely enclose the 'chemical. The envelope I6 is shown as stitched together at the ends at I6 and formed at the top with the inwardly turned edges I1, either formed;

integrally with the body of the envelope or, as shown, of separate pieces. It willbe Vnoted by referring to Fig. 3 that the envelope is provided with a trough I1 formed by the inturned edges which are disposed directly below the slot I0 in the top of the container, so that as the liquid, as for example water, is placed in the trough or funnel in thetop of the container, will drain through into the trough I8 formed in the envelope and thence permeate through the fabric and then seep intoi the material, setting up the chemical action. )After the water is added the device is thoroughly shaken so asY to agitate the material. Obviously, the` cover 'l may be displaced and the envelope removed for the purpose of adding the water` and the envelope shaken to agitate the material, after which itV may be put in the container and the same closed. Y

In order to conserve the heat and prevent useless dissipation through the back wall 2 of the container as well as the bottom 3 and ends 4, I prefer to insert a lining I9 of insulating material, as for example, asbestos, which may be pressed into the container, It will be particularly noted, however, that the insulating lining is omitted between the envelope and the front side 1 of the container so that the `wall l receives all of the heat to conduct it to the windshield glass.

In making up the device, one of the flanges 9, as indicated at 9 inFig. 2, on the wall 'l may be leftunbent so that after the envelope is placed in the container the wall l may be pushed into closing position, as shown in Fig. 2,- and. then the flange portion 9 turned down, sealing the device andV preventingV the tampering with the envelope and contents. However, if itis desired to provide rells for the container, whichthe user may purchase separately ,and insert in the container,` then in that event the flange-9" may be omitted and access be had to the container by merely sliding the front wall or cover 'l back and removing the old envelope and inserting a-filled new one. By making the cover or wall 1 displaceable, it is also possible to remove the` envelopefand shake that to agitate the material, thereby morey thoroughly agitating it. 1 Y

I have shown means for securing the container and contents to the inner side of the windshield, the same consisting of suction or vacuum cups 2l, preferably made of rubber and suitably vsecured to the container, preferably at the ends. These cups are each attached to spring arms 22 by means of a rivet 24 or the equivalent, and in the preferred constructionV I so connect the arms to the container bythe vclips 23 Vthat they may be removed if desired. One ofthe advantages in having the-same reniovable is that when the device is removed from the windshieldI they may bere'm'ovedjfrom the container when the device is placed in the dash-or door pockets orcompartments, making the' device a little-more convenient and conipactwV The arms 22 are preferably yieldable or resilient so that when they are positioned and the device mounted on the inner side of the glass they exert a pressure, maintaining the face of the front or cover wall 'l snugly and firmly against the glass so that there is very little, if any, air between the device and the glass which would reduce the efliciency. Likewise, by maintaining it rm against the glass at all times, the device will not chatter on the glass.

I have shown the back wall 2, as well as the ybottom wall of the container, provided with openings which may be arranged in the form of VVlouvers 26 which admit some air to the container tioned, tends toimprove the action of the chemical. Where the insulation I9 is provided in the casing, openings I9' are arranged at the louver openings.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the device is similar in its essentials to that previously described, but is varied to some extent in details. Referring to the iigure', 21 represents the case or container which may-be 4provided` with the vacuum cups 2l with the resilient arms 22 secured at 24 to the vacuum cups and arranged to engage in theclips 2,3. With-this construction the funnelshaped slot in the container at the top is omitted and louvers 29 provided. The same may be provided with louvers 28 on the back face and also on the bottom if desired.A The front wall or cover 30 is arranged to be displaceable so as to permit ready access to Vthe container, within which is arranged an envelope 3l carrying the chemical mixture 32, it being immaterial as to which wall is madedisplaceable. If other than the front wall is displaoeable, the envelope may be removed without removing the container from the glass. In this particular form, the envelope 3l is provided with a pocket or apmember 33 so arranged as to provide a pocket or receptacle 34 in which theywater may be -placed and from whence it seeps into the envelope and is taken up by the chemical. -Afterthewater has seeped in to the interior of the envelope, the envelope is then shaken thoroughly so as' to agitate the material and cause a more perfect chemical action extending throughout the length of the envelope. In this form ofthe device I have omitted the insulation described as applicable for the other device, but obviously it may be employed herein if so desired.

The body of the container may be 'made of any material suitable for the purpose, but the front or heat conducting .wall is preferably made of a material. that will readily transmit the heat to the glassor body to beheated. It is obvious that while the louvers ini-prove the appearance, unlouvered openings'may`- be provided and in instances even `v the openings might be omitted.

V'I'he devices are preferably `made more or less compact and preferably somewhat elongated so as to better distribute the heat to the glass as well as to a very large extent avoid interference with the vision;y Generally, it is mounted just at therear and slightly below the wiper blade, which y wherever found applicable, but is particularly designed to be applied to windshields, windows and the like on motor vehicles or carriers particularly including aeroplanes, motor boats, railway cab windows, as well as passenger automobiles, trucks and other vehicles.

It may be mentioned that the vacuum cups 2| which are employed to secure the device to the Windshield being preferably of rubber serve as an insulation .between the resilient armsy 22 and the glass of the windshield, so that the heat is not dissipated from the glass into the arms. The only metal contact of the device with the glass is through the front wall of the container which is the desired arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned. i

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A defroster comprising a container having an elongated aperture formed in its upper side, means carried by said container for attaching the container to a Windshield, an envelope in said container adjacent and operatively related to said aperture, and a heat producing composition in said envelope.

2. A defroster comprising a container having an elongated aperture formed in its upper side, means carried by said container for attaching the container to a windshield, an envelope in said container, said envelope having a trough-like edge portion adjacent said aperture, and a heat producing composition in said envelope.

3. A defroster comprising a container having an elongated aperture formed in its upper side and having inwardly extending lip portions surrounding said aperture, means carried by said container for attaching the container to a windshield, an envelope in said container, said envelope having a trough-like edge portion adapted to receive said lip portions, and a heat producing composition in said envelope.

4. A defroster comprising a container having an elongated aperture formed in its upper side and having inwardly extending lip portions surrounding said aperture, means carried by said container for attaching the container to a windshield, an envelope in said container, said envelope having a trough-like edge portion adapted to receive said lip portions, a heat producing composition in said envelope, and a heat resisting liner inside said container and surrounding a substantial portion of said envelope.

5. A deiroster comprising a container having an aperture formed in its upper side, a plurality of inwardly extending lip portions surrounding said aperture, resilient arms mounted on said container, suction cups mounted on said arms for securing the container to a windshield, a fabric envelope in said container, said envelope having a trough-like edge portion adapted to receive said lip portions, a heat repelling liner in said container and surrounding a substantial portion of said envelope, and a mixture for producing heat by chemical action with water positioned in said envelope.

6. A defroster comprising a container having a removable side portion and having an elongated aperture formed in its upper side, a plurality of inwardly extending lip portions surrounding said aperture, resilient arms removably mounted on said container, suction cups mounted on said arms for securing the container to a windshield, a fabric envelope in said container, said envelope having a trough-like edge portion extending beyond the respective ends: of said aperture and 

